Over the past few years, it feels like celebrities have really had to go the extra mile to hustle for their side projects and beauty/perfume/modeling contracts. At some point, the celebrity-interview-as-infomercial went majorly mainstream. Some celebrities even get major fashion magazine covers just to promote their side projects nowadays. It’s so weird. But I’m not complaining, because more often than not, the hustler interviews are better than the film-promotion interviews. Anyway, Charlize Theron has a new interview with WWD, promoting her Dior contract (she is the face of J’adore). You can read the full piece here and here are some highlights:
Charlize on maturing womanhood: “I think that women find their strength and power in their sexuality, in their sensuality within, [through] getting older and being secure within that. It’s ironic that we’ve built the beauty world around 20-year-olds, when they have no f–kin’ concept about wisdom, what life is about, having a few relationships below [their] belt and feeling hardships, to grow into [their] skin and feel confident within [themselves] and to feel the value of who [they] are, not because of a man or because of something like that. And I think that’s such a beautiful thing. And that’s why I think people say women come into their prime in their 40s. And then for some reason our society just wants to go…it’s like a dead flower… It’s like we wilt for some reason. And men are like fine wines — the older they get, the better they get. It’s such a misconception, and it’s such a lost opportunity because that’s when I think women are really in the true moment of their sensuality.”
On her closet, how she sees fashion: “[Mine] is a really nice closet. But by considered standards of other closets that I have seen, I think [mine is pretty minute]. I have seen images of people’s closets that are like homes, and I literally wonder if you wear every day something different, [whether] you still [would] be able to wear all of that stuff in one lifetime. And that concept bothers me. I’m incredibly lucky, people are very generous and sending me stuff. I never take that for granted, but I’m always very aware that I’m one person and I can’t wear everything. The idea of stuff just hanging in my closet and not being used — there’s a little bit of the African in me that gets bothered by that [somewhat]. My whole concept in life is if you’re not using it, you should give it to somebody else so they can use it.”
Keeping current politically: “I really love having an awareness. I don’t want to live in a world with blinders on. I don’t want to live in a world where I just kind of play on my naïveté — well if I don’t know it, then it doesn’t exist. I was raised in a country [South Africa] with a lot of political turmoil. I was part of a culture and a generation that suppressed people and lived under apartheid regimes. I don’t know how you can come out of that and not have an awareness for the world. I think that if my life had turned out any other way and I was working in a bank, I would still feel this way about it, because there’s a connection to humanity that to me is really important… I make a real effort to try and live in the real world and not just the dream world.
How her son changed her life: “The time management of it definitely comes into play. I’m very lucky right now that he is at an age where he can travel with me. He’s not in a structured school, but that’s going to change. Eventually, he’s going be in proper school, he’s going need structure and I will have to manage my time better. I look forward to that. I’m excited for that…. I want him to grow up with a mom that he could see and look at her life with all the mistakes and with all the failures and all the flaws and say, ‘My mom lived an authentic life. That was the life she wanted to live.’
She talks a lot about her son and motherhood and how she’s not going to take on touchy-feely movies just because she’s a mom and she’s still dark and hardcore. Which is probably true. She can be a mom and still be the baddest bitch out there. That didn’t bug me. What bugs me is that Charlize sees herself as an authentic person connected to the issues of the world and yet this is the same woman who compared gossip about her personal life to RAPE.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Yes I forgot about the rape comment. I don’t see her lasting 10 years with Sean Penn but I’d love to see them make a cute baby!
I don’t see how that could happen with Penn in the equation.
Sean Penn’s daughter Dylan is gorgeous…
Well, the hypothetical Sean/Charlize spawn could always luck out and get Charlize’s looks. Penn’s daughter with Robin Wright got her mother’s looks. The son, however, is rather unfortunate looking. It’s a crapshoot.
Dylan’s got mama’s genes and good plastic surgery under her belt with rhinoplasty and implants. And that’s just not uncommon where she lives- I live near Calabasas and the teenagers get noses and implants regularly along with drivers licenses and graduation gifts. Check out pictures of her when younger or pictures of her unaltered brother whose got a huge nose.
I just looked through photos of Dylan – and yes indeed she did get a nosejob.
She’s so full of it…
Yes. This. A thousand times.
Now that she’s dating Sean Penn she’s going to be even more full of it.
LOL @ her talking about beauty from within. She may be beautiful on the outside, but she’s ugly on the inside.
And as a 20-something, I have enough wisdom not to date a ham-faced rage-a-holic. I also don’t happen to not have money on me after I order something. I also don’t compare rather harmless, albeit annoying things such as paparazzi to something as serious as rape. So where is all of this wisdom she speaks of?
Perfect
As a 20-something, I agree.
+10000, Erinn.
Thanks for the laff Erinn.
I am in my 30’s but I have met many 20 years old very wise, mature, intelligent and grounded…much more than she will ever be! it is not about age.
I am getting increasingly annoyed by her, her arrogance, and lack of brain.
As a 20 year old THANKYOU. +infinity to this. What an asshole.
@Erinn
That she has…NONE.
I’m 21 and I agree.
Erinn- well said and very funny!
I hate the hate on Charlize. Don’t attack me.. She, up to the point she started dating Penn, was respected and admired. Coincidentally, once they came out as a couple, stories of her evilness randomly surfaced. Get it together fellow gossipers :)! Think about how esteemed she was regarded before Penn. Now, suddenly, we’re signing up for her being a bitch so that we can stomach her relationship with a globally renowned asshat.
Here’s what ( thanks mr cannon), think what you want based on the media’s depiction of who Sean Penn is. When one thinks of a badass mofo chic does Madonna not come to mind? Does she remotely strike you as a victim or a passive subservient wifey to her husband, at the time, Sean Penn? No doubt their relationship was probably volatile. I’m sure both were guilty.
So funny how out of the woodwork, there are stories about Charlize being a bitch. I challenge you to google a story about her prior to dating Penn that is in any way negative. She’s a charitable, low key, non fame whore , beautiful woman. She adopted a beautiful child and lives below the fame seeking radar.
@ Erinn
As a 20 something you’re ironic enough to believe what you read on gossip sites. Give it time, you very well may end up dating and breaking up with a ham faced raging alcoholic. ( can we talk? You know you, 20 something know all, stole the whole , “ham face” from a site that you, the 20 something, bought so solidly you burnt the receipt.
Yup yup. Here here!
She can take her dubuque ham and drop off the face of the earth.
Seems “within” is her new word d’jour. Doesn’t she realize in saying anybody isn’t as wise as her, shows her arrogance, unawareness of her arrogance, and therefore – not wise? Doh!
She reminds me of those guys who say they want “natural girls” who are not high maintenance (whatever that means) but go on to date the complete opposite. They don’t see themselves clearly but like the image they have of themselves so much, they’re convinced it’s true. She’s like that in that she wants to be this wise, down to earth woman who will never lose touch with her African roots but really, she’s not. She’s a typical celebrity who’s lost touch with what most people would call reality. Gossip is not rape and you’re not wise.
well said
ITA. If she truly believes what she is saying here, then she must not be very self aware…at all. Imagine what a world it would be if we are all as wise as Charlize…
yup yup yup
If she reminds you of that girl then maybe, based on what you’ve read, she is. See my comment above…. Maybe something she stated was taken in an off putting context. I find it strange that prior to her coming out as Sean Penn, supreme asshole’s gf, that she had zero negative publicity. There are sad slow days in the world if celebrity gossip. I myself live for it. However, this ridiculous concoction of how the once revered and lovely Charlize is now some icy bitch is nauseating and we should all know better.
She reminds me of what girl? I don’t follow to be honest.
Her changing image might have something to do with the fact that she said some truly idiotic things in interviews that showed how out of touch she really is. Maybe that was it? No? No, it must be Sean Penn and the association. Right.
If you find it nauseating that people change their minds, so be it. But why we should “know better” than to do so is a mystery to me. It happens all the time, in real life as well as in the world of celeb gossip. Someone does or says something and you see them in a different light. Is that not allowed anymore or is it just that you think you can decide which reasons are valid?
Btw, I read your above comment. Penn’s and Madonna’s relationship was volatile and you’re sure both were guilty? That’s interesting. I’m no huge fan of Madonna but come ON. She’s partly to blame for what he did but Charlize is above reproach? WHAT?
Ooh! That is so not true. She has more publicity lately b/c she’s with Penn, but she has always been known in Hollywood to be a total Biatch!
Charlize actually said something interesting about getting older but I’m sure all the comments will be negative.
I thought so too. She is right that it is society that writes women off when they hit forty and I think the women themselves find they become at peace with whom they have become through the 20 year journey between being twenty and forty and that is sad. The only negative thing I have to say is the Sean Penn can’t change who is and that he has a very short temper. In other words a leopard can’t change his spots no matter how he tries.
I just don’t accept that. I just don’t. I don’t care if there’s some truth to it. *I*, personally, don’t accept it. Society can only write you off at 40 (which is NOT old), if you *let* that happen. I’m completely, totally unwilling, at 38, to be told that I’m somehow losing my shine or whatever. Please.
@ Nancy,
So you know Sean Penn? Is what you’ve read on gossip sites enough to convince you that a beautiful and talented , non fame whore actress, must be a bad person bc she’s dating a man, from what you’ve read, is a tool? News flash… Mist actors are egotistical tools -and maybe try not to believe that you know a person or are able to assess ones character based on gossip sites. You’re welcome.
No, I think she’s an idiot because she’s dating a man with an abusive reputation and she dragged a child into it. I think she’s an idiot for being mean to staff and anybody she deems lowly or beneath her. I think she’s an idiot for self-aggrandizing. And this article with all her pontification and philosophy only adds credence to the rumor that she’s with Penn b/c they’re both into the nose candy. Bouyah!
I totally got what she was saying.
She did say something interesting about age – or at least accurate, as opposed to her stupid wisdom comment – but also something that is completely Captain Obvious at this point. I mean, I’m not going after FingerBinger or anything, I agree she actually said something legit about age, I’m just saying she’s hardly making a f-cking groundbreaking observation with that one. Oh, women are generally considered “less attractive” as they age while men “get better with age” and that’s a bunch of bullsh*t? CHARLIZE! YOU SAVANT!
Also, my own perspective on the age thing: I get a little stabby when women say stuff like this. Because I think it *perpetuates* it, rather than helps it. I am of the Cindy Crawford school of thought, she says “believe your own press.” I think she used it in reference to things like, if YOU don’t point out your mole as a flaw, other people are going to be far less likely to see it that way. And I think she applied it in a broader sense as well. Maybe I’m a f*cked up excuse for a feminist, but I hate it when women say stuff like this. “Oh, wah wah, we’re considered ‘old’ and ‘unattractive’ and ‘washed up’ by 40.” Speak for yourself, honey! And quit putting that crap out there! Just SHUT UP AND BE FABULOUS.
Exactly!! Thank you voice of reason. I’ve been a fan from early days and she is the down to earth, guys girl the previous commenter accused her of faking.
@littlemissnaughty
I appreciate your point. You’re right, I didn’t choose my words well. I agree, celebrities need to comprehend that everything they utter in an interview will be picked apart and judged. The very vehicle they use to promote themselves is the same thing that loses public favoritism.
I ( hat in hands) apologize. I hate that she may be like all the rest… Sign me up as a delusional fan.
That bored the crap out of me, but I managed to read the first part of her interview. I don’t think women find their strength and power in their sexuality, do you? Maybe partly, as your sexuality is part of who you are, and you find strength in loving yourself, but that’s certainly not the sum total of my strength. What about love, spirituality, compassion, understanding, overcoming the heartaches and disappoints of life and growing through them, friendships that deepen with time, friendships that end, loving selflessly. Am I missing the point?
She just sounds pissed off that she’s aging out of being the hot girl.
That’s pretty much what I gleaned from her word salad. I also find her motherhood comments a bit odd. Instead of hoping for peace, health and happiness for her son, she wants him to think his mother lived an ‘authentic life’? I can’t follow her ramblings.
I didn’t get that part ether. Did she mean she hopes he see her living a “authentic life” and what to live a “authentic life’ also?
It usually helps if you read the whole interview and not just the excerpts.
@Christin She also said she wanted her son to be proud of her. That’s sounds like something a mother would say.
Point taken. I read the rest of her comments, and still get a lot of “me, me” from the motherhood comments. I also mistakenly assumed from her base comments that she might give away some of her excess clothing and items. The full context reveals she gives it to her girlfriends, who are lucky (her words).
Not that she doesn’t have a few valid points, and not that she’s necessarily a bad mother. I just sense a lot of self-absorption, and that is not surprising.
@fingerbinger, even when she talks about her son it’s all about Her and what he thinks of or will think of Her?! Ugghh
I remember when I first became aware of the power of my sexuality and it happened when I was 19-years-old. I feel guilty saying this, but the realization that there were things I could get or opportunities that would be thrown my way because of my gender and appearance was both empowering and intoxicating.
It was pretty life-changing at the time, and I think most women go through that as part of the maturation process. Or maybe not…but I sure did.
Now that I’m older I realize how most of the power I gained from my sexuality was pretty meaningless in the grand scheme of things. Sure, on a day-to-day level it made life easier but it also allowed me to treat people in a way that I’m not very proud of. Life became sort of effortless and it allowed me to live in a purposefully trivial world, instead of focusing inward.
That being said, I had a lot of fun in my twenties. A LOT. And I have days when I miss looking like I did at twenty-five, but I wouldn’t want to be back there for anything.
I can say with complete confidence that I’m 100% more secure with myself now and I’m just a better person-more introspective, kinder, calmer, and more caring. The twenty-something me was none of those things.
So so true-now THIS is wisdom!
Nicely done, O’kitt, I agree on that. I do think that being a Hollywood ‘it’ girl, though, is a horse of a different color, because in THAT sense, the ‘it’ is largely the only power and then most are dispensed with within the business. But Theron did do the ‘ugly role’, so it’s tough to gauge with her if any statements are of bitterness and mourning youth for all of its advantages.
Yes, I agree with everything you say. I certainly remember the moment I realized the power of my sexuality. There was a boy I liked when I was 15, and he wasn’t noticing me that I could tell, so when I left the room, I looked over my shoulder and gave him a big smile. He stood up and followed me out of the room like a puppy. And I felt that power, absolutely. And I continued to feel entitled to that through my 20s, though I was a very insecure person. But I don’t know if I can put this into words, but that’s not the source of my strength. At all. It’s a side bonus if you happen to be pretty, but it doesn’t give you much back except getting out of speeding tickets. When your best friend dies, or you find out you have cancer, you better have something more solid going on inside, or you’ll sink like a rock. So I don’t understand her saying that women find their strength in their sexuality, unless she means that women in their 20s do, then find it in something else as they grow older. It’s not that clear to me from what she said. Maybe I need a reading comprehension course, or to stop skimming.
@GoodNamesAllTaken, I completely agree and having some of those traumas at a young age certainly speeds up the process of finding your core strengths, or those with substance and not appearances. But this is an actress so some of the perception should be viewed within that context of Hollywood and qualities that are valued in women there.
Yes, but the turning point where a woman realizes the power of her sexuality is an almost uniquely female experience (unless you’re a male supermodel), because of the male-female dynamics as well as the patriarchal social construct within our society.
Taking her point and putting it in a broader, historical context:
For a long time, women were only able to raise their status by their physical appearance. They were expected to marry and have children and as such, they had to look their best to secure the best mate. Men’s social status was also largely contingent upon how attractive the woman on his arm was. So essentially, women’s social worth and professional success (the primary female profession at the time being homemaker) was largely dependent on how beautiful she was. Even today, women are held to a higher standard when it comes to our appearance—-even in an office setting—not just Hollywood.
So the focus on our appearance isn’t always meaningless, it can be a strategic move to advance our careers or social standing. It doesn’t automatically mean that we are vapid, superficial narcissists. On the contrary, it could mean that we’re shrewdly operating within the patriarchal framework that has long been established. In that sense, our beauty is our “power”, it’s what can potentially give us an edge over a man in an unequal work atmosphere–a place where men make more money than women and a place where men largely have the most power.
I think in that sense, we do find our strength in our sexuality and that doesn’t preclude us from being reflective, loving, intelligent, fully-formed human beings. It just means that we’re using a f*cked-up system to the best of our advantage.
I sort of envy you ladies. I remember clearly the first time I was made aware of my sexuality. I was a twelve year-old already growing out of a B cup and well on the way to being 5’9″. Visiting in Florida, I was walking down the street wearing a one piece and holding my two year-old cousin’s hand. A car full of guys drove by and they were hanging out of their car yelling and sticking out their tongues, etc. I was beyond frightened and mortified. I went home and wore a zipped up hoodie over my chest for a straight year.
That happens to some women. Mostly to the ones who have the luck to be beautiful. Not to all.
@Mayamae-I think what you’re talking about is different. I had moments like that as a tween that frightened me as well. At the time, those experiences defined sexuality as a “scary” thing to my immature mind.
What I’m talking about is the knowledge that sexuality is POWERFUL, that it can be used to one’s advantage, and that is an entirely different experience. That’s why I said I remember the exact moment that it happened and I was 19 years old–old enough to understand what it meant and to not be frightened by it, but to see it as useful to me. That’s when my sexuality became empowering and a tool that I could use to benefit ME, not something that belonged to men that could be used to taunt or degrade me.
The world is a really different place for those of us who could bleeding in the street and still watch every man alive keep on walking. When I was 20, I started to wonder if it would be this be this way forever (yes), and trying to figure out how to feel like a regular person when this huge aspect of being human hated me down to my flesh. I was realising that it’s not great to want to cut the tongue out of girls talking about their guy problems, not to be so completely crushed by the fact that unrequited love was a redundant phrase and elegantly deflect the jokes. Sexual power was the enemy to me at that age — nowadays we don’t war with each other, but we don’t speak either.
If I had any shred of wisdom at that age, it would have been that I knew that you don’t get to just have everything and that maybe some things aren’t universal. Hating that other women had these magical powers that I didn’t wasn’t the way to think about things. Having fun in your 20s might as well be inventing calculus, but there are some good things about (let’s be honest), being completely undesirable to the opposite sex:
-I’m not afraid to be alone. I have met so, so many women who can’t be single. Maybe if it were a choice for me I’d be like too, but, it’s kind of creepy.
-There are a lot of things that women bar themselves from doing because they won’t do them alone. Why drag him a film you know he’ll hate? You get to choose the film, time, venue (sometimes), snacks, day– all of it.
– No, I am not going to ask if this makes me look fat, I have eyes and why would ask you for fashion tips?
-You have a lower chance of living for men’s approval. I’ve recently found that it’s liberating to not.give.one.shit about what guys think. I eat the pretzels, I don’t twist myself into one.
Sometimes, do we get too hung up on sexuality? It just seems tedious after a while, but maybe I’m not hip to the fact that this has real world application for other people. oh, well.
Thanks, that means a lot coming from you. There are things in life you control, but there is a part of life that just happens to you and you have to do what you to not get swallowed up by it. Of course, there is perspective angle and I don’t think that that only related to keeping in mind that people have it worse, but also in acknowledging that some things hurt. It’s funny how puzzled we can be by the person on the other side of the table. I’ve been given the, ‘Are saying that it would be fine if you never get married and have kids? I means, I know guys have never been interested in you, but someone might’ speech by people who were incredibly incredulous about me thinking that I’ll be fine with whatever happens.
Coming to that conclusion, that it’s fine if I never date, amidst all of the relentless teasing about it, was the work that that tiny little sliver of life that wasn’t about school was mine to do. But, I had to step back and look at other women’s personal lives versus my own, and when I did that, it started to be okay. ‘Well, those girls go on dates and have boyfriends and people who regard them as having sexuality’, so what? Do you think that makes them better? If you do, why?
There’s something about saying, ‘who cares?’ That’s really life-affirming.
I thought that too….she’s repeating very stale headline stuff about our dwindling ‘visibility’ as we age….but honestly, I’ve found leaping past 50 gave me access to freedom I had had all along but kind of self-denied. That is: I quit caring about the perceptions of others, male and female. And letting go, you find yourself actually eagerly embraced! It must be that a woman who’s happy to be her best version of herself, and not straining to be A.N. Other, is a comfortable person to have around. So while there’s no doubt at all that the fight for feminism is nowhere near won, it’s not true to claim that it’s necessarily always The Patriarchy that brings down the curtain on 40+ women…..we do it to ourselves with no prompting.
. I think Charlize should have a natter with Helen Mirren, to pick an obvious winner post 40. She looks great, tis true, but the important thing is her attitude….same with Jerry Hall; there are legions of engaging older women who make nonsense of Charlize’s complaint.
I think, meself, that a lot of the general fears about ageing that women like her have and foist on others, are entirely about THE MENOPAUSE. I’m still waiting for it, but I do know that most notions circulating out there are about 40 yrs out of date. You do not shrivel up, expand, grow a beard and god wots not what else….this is a subject I’d like to see waving gaily in the streets, and celebrated as the end of the ‘curse’ years and onwards to freedom.!
(I’m sorry…..what was the question? Got a bit carried away there.)
I don’t think there’s any denying that women derive *some* of their power from their sexuality, their looks, etc. And WELL past 40. There’s nothing wrong with that! Hell, I’m going to use every tool in my toolkit. And I think women screw themselves by continually b*tching about this. You don’t hear men (the reasonably decent, sane, smart ones anyway) saying this business about women. Women say it. And I seriously doubt Pepsi/Coke commenter is really all that man-repellant. Maybe it’s a confidence thing, I don’t know. But I don’t really believe in unattractive people. Even unconventional-looking people can be considered attractive if they display whatever it is about their personality and/or appearance that makes them quirky and interesting. That’s attractive.
I have worked as a model for years. I’m also a lawyer. I received a LOT of attention over the way I looked from a young age, so I get the thing about realizing you have this weird power and being uncomfortable and not knowing what to do with it for a while and wanting to cover up……and then learning how to harness it for your own benefit! But I don’t think it’s limited to someone who looks like this or that. I really, really believe it’s all in what you put out there. Believe your own press, ladies! And make your own press GOOD! 🙂
Well-said, Tobasco 🙂
It was dull, I had to peace out on that thing about twelve seconds in, but I agree. It’s always about being comfortable in in your sexuality and some ‘authenticity’ talk. Just boring.
Very interesting posts Pepsi, I can relate to much of what you say. You sound like a valuable person.
Not every person age 40 or above has wisdom, either.
If she worked in a bank, would she treat people better because she might experience customer rudeness? Maybe from a 20 year old wanna-be starlet who can’t accept the bank’s policies?
About, say, cashing a cheque? 😉
You read my thoughts. 😉
Well-played, I tip my hat to you!
I was thinking that too.
Apparently you do not have the concept either. Exhibit A: Sean Penn. Exhibit B: Chelsea Handler.
Here, let me share a bit of wisdom for you that is quite appropos: Tis better to be silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt.
Wisdom from someone who is dating Sean Penn?
You took the words out of my mouth!
Wisdom doesn’t always come with age.. More so from having rich experiences and learning from your mistakes. I have a 22 old friend (she’s more like a little sister to me) and I find her to be wise. On the other hand, I have a 47 year cousin who is NOT wise in the least.
Awesome comment and I completely agree with you, AlmondJoy. That being said, I think Charlize has a point that in our society, women are devalued as we age, which is sad because we *generally* get wiser and have more to contribute socially, professionally, even emotionally as we get older.
Absolutely spot on, Almondjoy.
I take no pride in admitting that at 58 I have the emotional maturity of a 20 yr old…..and while it’s all very well being ‘young at heart’ like Sinatra advised, remaining ‘young at brain/sense’ is another matter. :/
Whatever about moi, this was another flippin Charlize rant that exposed an unattractive nature.
She makes me think of dear Morrissey singing ‘I’ve seen you smile, but I’ve never ever heard you laugh’
Thanks ladies!!
TOK: good point!! Society wants to discard us once we get to a certain age. It’s terrible. Generally speaking😊, the older we get we become more beautiful, knowlegeable and just all around amazing. My mom is a perfect example of that. And then there’s always a *select* few that seem to not grow and progress as time goes by.
Chris: I love the fact that you know yourself so well. In my opinion, you have shown yourself to be a mature, caring and thoughtful person. And you will continue growing and evolving! 😊 Also, I don’t like Charlize much these days 😔 Iused to be a fan.
Thank you, lovely lady. And as you say, we can carry on learning and growing, all through life, there are no deadlines or exclusion limits.
Agree with you both 🙂
Some twenty year old people are quite wise and some 40 somethings date Sean Penn and compare negative publicity to rape.
Boom. You win!
I was going to write the same thing, but you did it first! 🙂
+1111111111111111111
Indeed.
And FWIW, Sean Penn does not equal fine wine. More like a musty vinergarized old port, opened and kept out for too long.
LOL…I love Port but bad Port is really really bad.
hah, yes, I agree with many general statements in this excerpt but she’s a really full of herself underneath it. Beauty and wisdom aside, last time I checked women reach their prime in 30s (biogically speaking and a personal observation) but since she’s crossing over, I guess we can shift numbers a bit.
Second, she just has to keep on mentioning ‘you know I’m from South Africa, I’ve seen things and I am sooo aware of suffering/injustice/etc’, unlike the rest of the Hollywood, yet she’s got a total bitch reputation and I’ve never seen her go on a humanitarian trips or similar efforts with those legs. Ugh. But I give her credit for wanting to be a proper parent to her kid and give him a steady surrounding. As a person who moved in childhood a couple of times accross the state and even outside, I feel like that is important at certain age.
This is the same woman who tried to get someone banned from her gym because they dared say ‘hello’ to her and she thinks 20 year olds don’t have any wisdom?? Bitch please.
Man, that was a lot of words to end up saying very little, she doesn’t come off as being well spoken, kind of like a Kristin stewart interview.
Don’t a lot of celebrities have this dichotomy, though? Like, they are the biggest, most coddled baby whiners ever, but they all believe they are soulful, deep and “connected” with wisdom of humanity, in a way that no one else is?
As for her, I can actually hear her rehearsing this with her publicist.
We can safely assume she practiced her talking points in advance. The full article is a tie-in for the new ad campaign, so she’s going to talk about empowerment, maturity, etc. Yet it’s really just self-centered generalizations for the most part.
Life is an ongoing opportunity to grow. I don’t think a magic switch happens at age 30 or 40. Some people don’t have maturity or a great deal of wisdom at 70 or 80. On the flip side, there are teenagers I’ve met who possess a great deal of maturity and seem wiser than she appears to be at nearly 40.
I can’t believe how fast she went from being my ultimate woman crush to being at the bottom of the barrel.
Sometimes silence is golden.
She makes some valid points.
Kids are now being brought up in a society where scores are not kept, there are no winners or losers and everyone receives a Participation Trophy.
An entire generation of kids in America that are growing into adulthood with the delusion that life is fair will be shell-shocked when they enter the real world.
Or maybe they’ll grow up and help create a society where the winners don’t constantly get to stomp on the losers.
I work in child welfare social work, and I find this to be an interesting argument whenever it is brought up. I think quite a few kids learn life is hard and unfair at very early ages. I’ve seen a lot of terrifically horrible and abusive parenting in my line of work, as well as seen the casual emotional neglect at work and with some of my family/friends. I truly believe that parents need to be nicer to kids, in general. Let kids be kids. The rat race will come. The unfairness of life will reveal itself; it’s a shock to everyone, really, no matter if you learn the lesson at 5 or 25.
I don’t see this current generation as all that different, technology aside, from my generation. Every group has the whiny crybabies, the free spirits, the traditionalists, etc.
I’d have to agree with this. I was taught to harden up at a young age and had pressure on me that was at times monstrous in order to make those difficult experiences of later age less destabilizing and to enter into the adult world with boot on. There was some value in it, but it made me sadder for that much more time. It’s humanity’s favourite pastime to wail about the younger generation but do we really have any more of a reason to be afraid? Doubt it.
Maybe we wouldn’t have to give out many ‘You Got of Bed!’ awards if people didn’t force their kid into so many dumb activities.
I don’t know how she can talk about “I really love having an awareness” “connection to humanity” and compared gossip about her personal life to rape?
How aware can you be to make that type of comparison. I mean she choose to put herself in the spotlight, rape victims don’t choose to be raped.
Maybe ‘Wise One’ Charlize should have realised that, just because people hang on to her every word because she’s famous/beautiful/whatever, it doesn’t mean what she says is actually saying is of any importance.
She gives good bitch face.
She’s right. I love her.
She bores me and so does all the talk about how wonderful she is.
I bet the hookers that Sean Penn cheats on her with are in their 20s.
Ohhhhhhh, SNAP!!!
As a South African, I feel like I should defend her, she is the South Africa’s sweetheart after all. But I can’t. I used to be a huge fan but ever since she got with Sean , she showed her true colours and they are not pretty. I always knew she was a bitch but I didn’t know she was a douche as well.
I don’t want to end the comment on negative note. She looks breathtakingly beautiful. And she tapped onto something very interesting and (probably) true with her rambling about agism against women.
I find it peculiar that when talking about her son she continues to talk about herself. When she goes into describing how she wants him to go to a proper school I thought she was going to say how she wants him to grow to be like this and that but instead she switches back to herself: I want him to grow up with a mom that he could see and look at her life with all the mistakes and with all the failures and all the flaws and say, ‘My mom lived an authentic life. That was the life she wanted to live.”
I do not think you should put down other people to make yourself seem better. There are plenty of immature 40 year olds as well, it depens a great deal about personality as well how you handle your relationship. But I do understand what she is trying to say about society she just put it a poorly in my opinion.
Do people really think men age like wine? At least here men are more respected when it comes to their intellect as they age, which doesn’t happen to women, but I know absolutely no one who thinks men get sexier with the passing of the years. It’s a lot harsher on us, but if women age like yoghurt men age like cheese. At least that’s what most people around me think.
I may be 25, but I have enough wisdom not to date Sean Penn.
One totally maintains a connection with humanity by dating someone that likes to beat women. Go you, Charlize.
Funny how all of these actresses nearing 40 or hitting it start espousing that 40s are when women have all the wisdom, all the fun, know themselves, blah, blah. I didn’t see any of those comments when they were 28 and 33 and being adored by all.
I’m not saying you don’t get wisdom as you get older and more comfortable, but the whole 40s bullet point I’m tired of. Women hitting their 30s is usually when you really realize in your 20s you knew nothing and became more confident and more life experience, but who says the 20s are bad or not mature times in your 20s. There’s lot of young mothers, career women, soldiers, divorced young women you have lived life well before 40.
I agree that a 20 year old, barely out of her teens, know nothing as a general rule, but she’s jumped from 20 to 40 as far as having wisdom. I know desperate women in their 40s after a divorce and grabbing on to men beneath them because they are lonely. I’ve known brilliant career women in their 30s foolish in their love life and 40s. Forty doesn’t give you instant wisdom. She’s dating Sean Penn. What does that say about her?
It’s a little squick of her to invoke the stereotype of black African poverty and align it with her personal experience. Just…no, blondie. No. Your thing is nothing like the other thing, never was, even during your tumultuous but very-white childhood. STFU.
See I read the actual interview and thought she came across as a really cool, grateful chick with the kind of things said about the industry’s attitudes towards women that I’d like to hear more often. Of course I come here and the most provocative statement, which should be read in context to get her point about age bringing wisdom and experience, which is beautiful, is the headline which is just baiting negative comments. And people completely miss her points.
For the people saying she’s talking about herself, well if you read the actual interview and not the excerpts labeled by Kaiser she is being asked about herself over and over and stuff like how she wants to be remembered. And she is the one to bring up her son.
Also enough with the rape comment. Like you’ve never said something dumb in your life before. It doesn’t mean she’s out of touch with reality and has been some pampered princess her whole life. This is a girl who witnessed her father being shot by her mother and she got out there, struggled and made something of herself. I saw the infamous interview, and if you look she’s struggling to say a word and “rape” came out. Not to trivialize it, but to express feeling violated. She just messed up and didn’t choose the right word. English isn’t her first language. Give the girl a break people.
@Paula I just wanted to say I agree with you 100%. As I said up-thread it helps if you actually read the interview, which I also did and not just the excerpts,it makes more sense. It’s clear a few people didn’t actually read the whole Q+;A before they decided to comment.
You know what age a woman is at her best? Any f*cking age that she feels the best. Yes, sometimes wisdom comes with age and experience-but if I had stuck to some of the things I had wanted at 20, I would better off right now at 42. She pisses me off spouting about “wisdom” when she brings a known abuser into her son’s and her own life. Particularly after her terrible experience w/ her father. Then again, maybe I’m just being a judgy bitch. Maybe Sean Penn has changed and become a good man…oh, screw it I can’t even finish that sentence.
She is one cold biznatch. I’m not interested in anything she says or does, nor any of the products she’s shilling. I am, however, looking forward to the dramatic end that I’m sure is in store with Sean Penn. Sooner or later.
what about when she was 20 and f*cked her way to the top? that was wisdom, sure, It got her and Oscar (of course i know she can act, but she’s not Meryl, she needed some extra help)
Hello All!
Great points and insight all around. I come here for the gossip but also for conversations like the one in this thread. Posts like this make me wish I had more time in my schedule to contribute! Instead, I’m left to silently comment, giggle and react all by my lonesome, often even when someone is, for example, celebrating their birthday and they have the best perspective I’ve ever heard or when someone shares something deeply personal and my heart goes out to them. Dammit. There’s never enough time in the day! Sigh. So I just want to thank you all for being so great and sharing your *authentic* wisdom, perspective and opinions.
– Miss Dragon
I find it to be quite unwise to put numbers on wisdom, or on a lack thereof. Also, I wouldn’t know what a “concept about wisdom” would be. It’s a mental and emotional process to become more aware of yourself, and confident, and about your place in this world, so I can’t agree with the 20/40 thing. Looks like she takes the showbiz world for the real one, since it is full with insecure people way above the average. Also, we’ve heard the same from women in their 30s, or 50s- so it seems we all reach ‘wisdom’ at different stages in our lifes, mainly depending on the sort of experiences we make, and if/ how we learn from them. And I’ve met quite a few people/women who seem to be eternal fools 🙂 What I can agree with, however, is , that exactly at the time where a lot of women seem to ‘bloom’ into their full capacity (at whatever age), society actually wants them off the radar. And I believe it’s fear, because there’s nothing more powerful than a woman being content, and aware of her inherent wisdom.